Apparatus for registering and feeding sheets.



APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1915.

Patented Ovt. 1T, 1916.

2 SHEETS-VSHEET 2.4

ran sra N s PATENT orme ff HENRY Gr. SCHWERDTLE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO STOKES` & SMITH COMPANY, OF SUMMERDALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

Application filed J' une 24, 1915. Serial No. 36,021.

To f//Z trimm. 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY G. Sciiwiznn'rLn, a citizen of the Iinited States, residing at Philadelphia. inthe county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Registering and Feeding Sheets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism for effect the registering of the sheets automatip cally by very simple means operating in such a way that the sheets of the pack progress toward the point at which they are removed or separated from the pack. In the present embodiment of the invention the sheets are successively registered and removed at the bottom of the pack.

Further objects ofthe invention will appear hereinafter.

. The invention consists in the general combination of parts and details, all of which contribute to produce an efficient registering, separating and feeding mechanism.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in the accompanying speci` lication, while the broad scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a plan partially broken away showing an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through thev mechanism shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the mechanism shown in Fig. k1. Fig. 4 is aplanupartially broken away` and illustrating another form or ernbodiment the invention may take. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section through the mechanism shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a plan partially broken away showing a portion of'` a feed table illustrating another embodiment or form of the invention. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the table shown in Fig. 6 and its contiguous parts. Fig. S is a vertical sectlon upon an enlarged scale also extending in a transverse direction with respect to the table and further illustrating the operation of this embodiment of the invention.

In the embodiment ofthe invention illus'- trated in Figs. 1 to 3, a suitable support is provided for a. pack 12 of sheets, preferably in the form of a table l() which is mounted to reciprocate in a. substantially horizontal direction on a frame 11. This support or table 10 is provided with means which tends toshiftthe bottom sheet of the pack'l.) or the pack itself. laterally with respect to the direction of feed, on the table so as to effect the proper alinement or side register of the sheet which is to be-'fed forward. This means preferably has an engaging face which engages the bottom 'sheet of the pack to move it into register. According to my invention I successively remove the bottom sheets of the pack and register each bottom sheet by a pressure land movement` 'exerted on the bot-- tom of`the pack, before the bottom sheet is removed. 4In the embodiment of the invens tion shown in F igs.' 1 to 3 this result is accomplished by means of av plurality of transverse belts 13, which pass around suitable guide rollers 14 and 15 (see Fig. 2). These belts lie under the pack and automatic means is provided for automatically advancing the belts in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 1. In this w-a-y the belts tend to move the pack of sheets over against a relatively fixed alining means or side registering gage 16. This alining or registering gage is preferably in the form of a' substantially vertical plate, tnev by reason of a slot 19 in the foot 17 through which passes a clamping bolt 20. In order toenable the gage 18 to be adjusted or placed in. different positions on the table corresponding to the different sizes of sheets, the

table lmay bc provided with a plurality of' threaded sockets 21 arranged in pairs and aforesaid bevel gear 27. This segment 28 these sockets are adapted to'receive removable thumb screws 22 which are carried by ythe base or rest 18' for holding it in place.

0n the opposite side of the pack asimilar alining gage 16a is-provided.

In order to move the belts 13 automatically'periodically, I prefer to provide a shaft 23 which carries a ratchet wheel24. Co# operating with .this ratchet wheel' there is provided a loosely Irotating bevel gear 25 which carries a pawl 26. This bevel gear and pawl are rocked back and forth by means of a 'rocking bevel gear 27 which meshes with the gear 25a'nd which is constantly rocked through ,the medium of a rocking segment 28 which meshes with a. pinion 29 `on the shaft 30 which carries the may be rocked in any suitable manner, from a moving part of the press, as for instance, by means of a connecting rod 30a. The shaft 23 extends parallel with roller 15 and rotates the roller 15 periodically through they medium of a gear wheel 31 on shaft 23 which meshes with a pinion 32 on the shaft of the roller.

j The belts 13 assistA in effecting register of the sheets ina lateral direction. In order to assist in alining or registering the vbottom l sheet of the pack 12 in another direction, I

prefer to provide means for alining or registering the outer transverse edge 12a of the pack (see Fig. 1). This means is preferably in theform of a relatively iXed plate 33 adjustably mounted in a slot 34in the table.

Any suitable means is provided for continu-l ously reciprocating the table, such asv link 35 attached to` disk crank 36 on the shaft 30.

Referring again to the cross belts 13, I

prefer to provide means for maintaining -1 them in suitable tension. Suitable means for this purpose is indicated. in Fig. 2 in which the shaft 37 of the roller 14 is `supported on adjustable threaded stems or screws 38 which have adjusting nuts 39 which clamp upon a suitable bracket 40, said bracket being attached on the under side of the table.

The lower edge of the alining gage or plate 16 is preferably provided with a longitudinal plate 41 bent downwardly at its edge.' (See Fi s. 1 and 2).r This plate is intended to hol up the adjacent edge of the pack and prevents the bottom sheet of the pack from passing under the lower edge of plate 16.

Any suitable means may be providedv for separating;v the bottom sheet from the pack. In the present embodiment, the table 10 reciprocates and while the table is recipro-` eating, the` separating means operates to successively remove .sheets from the bottom of the pack. This is preferably accomplished through the medium of a separating pneumatic picker roller 42 which' has a'pneu- .rear edge of the table so that when the table moves toward the rear the bottom sheet of the pack comes in contact with the upper side of the rollenand in such a way that the suction opening 43 engages the edge of the bottom sheet. Furthermore, the roller 42 is rotated in any suitable manner automatically and as it rotates it wraps the forward edge of the sheet about it; when the partial vacuum in the roller is released the edge of the separated sheet lies adjacent to an inclined guide face 44 on a picker finger 45. This picker finger has a substantially flat upper face which lies substantially in the plane of the upper face of the table. The forward edge of the sheet then passes down between two feed rollers 46 and 47 which are rotated continuously by any suitable means. These rollers then feed the sheet forward into the press.

In order to support the overhanging portions of the pack, I prefer to provide belts or tapes 48 and one end of each of these belts is attached to the rear edge 49 of the table. From this. point they pass around pulleys formed on the picker roller 42 and then pass 'under the table I(see Fig. 3) and around guide rollers 50 on a cross shaft 51. Beyond the shaft 51 the ends of these tapes are attached to tension -springs 52 which are anchored at 53 under the table. These springs maintain the tapes or bands 48 in suitable tension.

A driving connection is maintained with the belts 13 throughout the reciprocation of the table. This is accomplished in the following way: As the table reciprocates, the aforesaid gear wheel 31 slides to and fronn the shaft 23 but may be driven by the shaft at any time through the medium of a feather ,or spline 54 (see Fig..3). A bracket 55 eX- tends down from the table an *l forms a loose sliding bearing for the shaftJ 23. It also carries gear wheel 31 with it as it slides to and fro.

In order to keep the pack intact when the table reverses its movement, after moving toward the separating device, I prefer to provide a keeper in the form of two arms 56 which extend downwardly from a cross shaft 57, said shaft being supported on forwardly projecting brackets 58 carried by the table. see Figs. 1 and These keeper arms 56.are controlled in any suitable manner by means which it is unnecessary, to illustrate.

It will be evident that in the present enibodiment of the invention I provide means 60 thumb screws 81.

on the face of the table for alining the sheets, which means may be in the form of the belts 13 described above. I may, however, employ other means instead Vof the l belts, for example, I may provide an alining or registering roller 59 which is mounted in a suitable opening 60 in the table 61- (see Fie. 5). This roller is referably vdisposed.-

so that its axis extends ongitudinally with lo the table and it is preferably supported so that its upper face is substantially flush with the upper face of the table. Furthermore, it is periodically7 rotated so that its upper face travels toward a fixed alining means 62 on the upper side of the table. When this rotation takes place, I also prefer to elevate the roller slightly so that it will be more effective in forcing over the bottom sheet or the pack of sheets. For this purpose the roller is preferably supported at its'ends on arms G2 pivotally supported on suitable brackets 63 undery the table. Means is provided fo-r rotating the roller and also periodically elevating the arms. This preferably comprises a horizontal shaft 64 provided with a rigid gear wheel 65', and this gear meshes Vwith a pinion 66 which is inserted preferably near the middle point of the registering roller 59. The shaft 64; is driven I by bevel gears G7 from a rocking shaft 68 which may be rocked to and fro in'any suitable manner. Through the bevel gears 67 a ratchet wheel G9 on shaft 64 is periodically rotated in one direction by a pawl 70. This rotates the shaft 64 and intermittently or periodically rotates the roller 59. In order to raise the roller 59 slightly whenever it is rotated, the shaft G4 is preferably provided with a cam 71 and this cam engages rollers 72 on the arms G2. This, of course, raises the arms and increases the pressure o f the roller on the face of the bottom sheetIl 4I-n this embodiment of .thefdnvetioiiMI also prefer fe-provideaelatively fixed alining 5{r'gistering plate 75 on the table which is adjustable by means of a slot 7G in the table, and a clamping bolt 7 6a. I also provide means for reciprocating the table which may consist of a link 77 attached to a disk crank 78 on the shaft 68.

When the roller 59 rotates, it brings the bottom sheet over against the alining plate G2, and any suitable means may be provided for4 supporting and 'adjusting this alining plate 62. The means illustrated is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. l and, comprises a base 79 in which a laterally projecting foot 80 is adj ustably mounted. The base may besecured in thetable by movable 0n the opposite side of the pack 74 another relatively fixed alining means 82 is provided which may, ifdesired,

be of substantially the same construction as that just described. 65 Another embodiment of the invention, by

way of example, mayv employ pneumatic means for effecting the alinement vor registration of the bottom sheet of the'pack or ofthe entire pack. Such an arrangement 4may comprise a pneumatic bar 83 having 70 two or more suction openings`84 on its upper face and mounted so that these suction openings are substantially flush withv the upper face of the table 85 (see Fig'. 8). A suity able pneumatic connection'86 is made to 75 this pneumatic bar and at the proper moment a partial vacuum is developed in the bar to cause its suction openings 84 to hold the bottom sheet of the pack. The pneumatic bar is then given a movement in the 81 direction of the arrow tow'ard a fixed alining means such as plate 87. Any suitable arrangement may be adopted for giving this 4pneumatic bar the desired movement.'

In the present embodiment of the inven- 85 tion the ends of the bar are mounted to move in suitable guides 88 and the bar is provided with a stem' 8,9 which extends transversely to the table and which is mounted to slide in suitable guides 90. Vhen the table moves 9'0 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 6, that l is, toward the separating device, the end of the stem 89 is moved inwardly by a fixed fcam 91 and near the end of the movement of the table in this direction, the stem passes 95` off of the cam andv a coiled spring 92 around the stem shoves the bar, 83 toward the fixed alining plate 87. When the bar moves toward the vfixed alining plate, of course, a partial vacuum has been developed inthe pneumatic connection 86,\vhich causes the bottom sheet to adhere to the bar and move with it. y

The separating device and other parts cooperating with the registering mechanism described in the embodiments of the invention shown in Figs. 5 to 8 are substantially` 'the same as those shown in Figs. l to 3.

It is understood that the embodiment of the invention set forth herein is only one of the many embodiments or forms the invention may take, and I do not wish to be limited in the practice of the invention nor in my claims to the particular embodiment set forth. my invention without the other features.

What I clailn is: 4

1. In a machine for registering, separating and feeding singlel sheets froma pack, in combination, 'a support for the pack of 12C sheets, means for successively engaging the under side of the bottom sheet of the pack to effect side register ofthe same, and means for successively removing the bottom sheets from the pack. 12b

2. .In a machine for registering, separating and feeding single sheets from a pack, in combination, a support for the pack 'of sheets', relatively fixed alining means .adjacent said support, meansmovable relativelyY l13M And Imay use any. feature of to said support for engaging the under side of the pack to shift the bottom sheet of the pack laterally with respect to the direction of feed against said fixed alining means, and means for removing the sheets one by one from the pack.

3. In la machine for registering, separating and feeding single sheets from a pack, in combination, a support for the pack of sheets, relatively fixed registering means adjacent said support, means guided to move transversely of the table toward said .fixed registering means for `engaging the under side of the pack to shift the bottom sheet 4of the pack laterally with respect to the direction of feed, toward said fixed registering i means, and means for successively removing the bottom sheets of the pack.

l. In a machine for registering, separating and feedingsingle sheets from a pack, in combination, a support for the pack of sheets mounted to reciprocate, means for reciprocating said support, relatively fixed alining means adjacent said support for effecting side registering of the sheets, means movable transversely to said support for engaging the under side of the pack tending to shift the pack laterally with respect to the feeding direction, toward said fixedV alining means, and means for successively removing I the bottom sheet of the pack upon each rearivard reciprocation of said support.

5. In a machine for registering, separating and feeding single sheets from a pack, in combination, a support for the lpack of sheets mounted to reciprocate, means for reciprocating said support, relatively fixed alining means adjacent said support for effecting side register of the sheets, means movable transversely to said support for engaging the under side of the pack tending to shift the pack laterally with respect to the feeding direction, toward said fixed alinl ing means, means for successively removing the bottom sheet of the pack upon each rearward reciprocatio-n of said support, and

other alining means for engaging a transverse edge of the pack.

6. In a machine for registering, separating and feeding single sheets from a pack, iii-combination, a table for supporting the pack, mounted to reciprocate, means mounted adjacent said table having a moving engaging face substantially flush with the supporting face of said table, means for moving said last named means tocause the said engaging face thereof to engage .the bottom of the pack and tending to move the. same laterally with respect to the feeding direction, onsaid table, relatively fixed alining means adjacent said support and coperating with said movable alining means to effect side register of the sheets, and means for successively removing the bottom sheets of the pack as thetable reciprocates. f

operating with said movable alining means to effect side register of the sheets, means for reciprocating the table, and means for successively removing the bottom sheets of the pack as the table reciprocates.

8. In a machine for registering, separating and feeding single sheets from a pack, in combination, a table for supporting a pack mounted to reciprocate, said table having a plurality of transverse belts mounted in the face thereof, means for reciprocating said table, relatively fixed alining means adjacent said table and said belts, means for periodically advancing said belts and thereby tending to move the pack of sheets against said fixed alining means, and means for successively removing the bottom sheets from the pack as the table reciprocates.

9. In a machine for registering, separating and feeding single sheets from a pack,

in combination, a vtable for supporting a pack mounted to reciprocate, means for reciprocating said table, a plurality of transversely disposed endless belts on said table for engaging the bottom sheet of the pack, means for reciprocating said table, relatively fixed alining means on said table, automatic means for periodically advancing said belts toward said fixed alining means tending to shift the pack toward said fixedv alining means, and a separating device coperating With said table to remove the bottom sheet of the pack at each reciprocation of the table.

10. Ina machine for registering, separating and feeding single sheets from a pack, in combination, a supportY for-*the- Ypack of sheets, relatively fixed aliningv means adjacent said support, relatively movable alining means engaging the under side of the pack tending to move the pack laterally on the table toward said fixed alining `means, a back alining means for engaging the outer edge of the pack operating to aline the transverse outer edge ofthe pack, and means for successively removing the bottom sheet from the pack.`

11. In a machine for registering, separating and feeding single sheets from a pack, in combination, a reciprocating table, a plurality of transversely movable belts mounted in the face of said table for engaging the under side of the pack of sheets on said table, relatively fixed alining means on the table, automatic means for periodically advancing said belts tending to shift the pack laterally toward said fixed alining means,

and an alining member mounted on said table for engaging the outer transverse edge of the pack.

l2. In a machine for registering, separating and feeding singleasheets from a pack, in combination, a support for-the pack of sheets, relatively fixed alining means adjacent said support, means movable relativelyY to said support for engaging the under side of the pack to shift the bottom sheet of the pack laterally against said fixed alining means, means for removing the sheets one by one from the pack, and a second relatively Xed alining means for engaging the edge of the pack opposite said firstf'named fixed alining means.

13. In a machine for registering, separat-A ing and feeding single sheets from a pack, in combination, a table for supporting the pack of sheets, means for reciprocating the table, means for separating the sheets one by one from the bottom of the pack, movable means carried by the table for engaging the under side of and registering the bottom sheet of the 'pack before it is removed, and

means for maintaining a driving connectionv to saidlast named means to operate thel same While the table is reciprocating.

14. In a machine for registering, separat.

ing and feeding single sheets from a pack, in combination, a table for supporting the pack of sheets, means for reciprocating the table, means for separating the sheets one by one on the bottom ,of the pack,.movable means carried by the table for registering the bottom sheet ofthe pack before it is removed, a frame, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame for `driving said belts, and a member moving With the table sliding onsaid shaft for driving the belts from said shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HENRY G. SCHWERDTLE, Witnesses:

. RoB'r. H. BROWN, .ERNEST E. RIDER. 

